Ukraine's Leopard 2 tanks struggle with repair delays in Lithuania compared to Poland

In late 2023, Ukraine's Leopard 2 tanks began undergoing repairs at the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense, in collaboration with the German industry. Notably, the latest Leopard 2A6 tanks and Stridsvagn 122 are serviced there, whereas the Polish industry mainly maintains the older and more familiar A4 versions.

Regrettably, Lithuania-based repairs are being delayed due to spare parts shortages. This is not an unusual issue, given that the Polish and Turkish industries have, in the past, resorted to making independent provisions for missing parts rather than waiting for deliveries from the German manufacturer.

As it stands, this proactive approach seems to be paying off, with tanks repaired in Poland returning to active duty faster compared to their Lithuanian counterparts due to the ongoing wait for spare parts. Allegedly, the German authorities sent an official note regarding this predicament to Rheinmetall and KMW corporations. However, the root cause might not be the Leopard's manufacturers but their subcontractors responsible for components such as transmissions, joints, bearings, or suspension parts.

Germany, and many other Western users of Leopard 2 tanks, have long economized their operation. Consequently, the base of spare parts manufacturers is now struggling to meet the sudden surge in demand for operating elements.

In the short term, the quickest way to restore these machines to combat readiness is to strip parts from units within the Swedish or German armored forces, weakening their defensive capabilities until the cannibalized machines are repaired.

Ukraine was slated to receive 88 Leopard 2 tanks of varying versions, ranging from the earliest A4 model of the 20th century to the 21st century's A6 versions. The prevalent A4 variant offers better protection than most Russian machines. Only the newest Russian T-72B3M, T-90M, or T-80BWM vehicles might surpass it. Nonetheless, Ukraine is compensating for this limitation by installing Kontakt-1 reactive armor tiles.

The situation differs considerably with Sweden's Stridsvagn 122 tanks, which are essentially an enhanced variant of the Leopard 2A5. Recognizable by the wedges at the front of their turrets, these fortified machines feature a reinforced turret roof, side armor, and a fire control system akin to the A6 version.

The latest Leopard 2 tank in Ukraine is the A6 version, produced in the early 21st century. This model outclasses all current Russian versions with its enhanced armor and new, longer gun, which is more precise and propels APFSDS-T DM53A1 projectiles at higher speeds, resulting in increased armor penetration.

Additionally, this model enables the crew to operate in hunter-killer mode, significantly reducing the time from enemy detection to their elimination. In this mode, the tank commander can directly aim the gun at the identified target using his panoramic sight, leaving only the final corrections to the gunner. This approach is far quicker than the commander issuing orders to the gunner to fire based on his instructions.